Yzi Labs Appoints Ex-Gemini Head as Investment Director – A Big Win for Crypto-AI Projects?

Yzi Labs, the CZ-led VC firm has appointed Jing Xiong as the new Investment Director. Check what it means for Crypto Startups!

Published by

Sneha Agrawal

June 3, 2025

Funding

Yzi Labs Appoints Ex-Gemini Head as Investment Director – A Big Win for Crypto-AI Projects?

Yzi Labs, formerly known as Binance Labs, has made a significant announcement in its investment team. It has appointed new Investment Director who holds a Phd degree in computer science to drive its Investment initiatives forward.

Jing Xiong is joining the VC firm after serving 5 years at Google. During her stint at the Big Tech giant, she had lead the multimodal multilingual quality effort of its AI product, Gemini and worked as the seasoned tech lead at Google Lens.

While making the announcement, Yzi Labs said, “she’ll lead our AI Investment efforts and explore the intersection between AI, web3, and biotech.” As crypto companies continues to leverage Artificial Intelligence particularly with the integration of AI Agents, this could imply more investment support for crypto*AI startups.

Infact, Head of Yzi Labs, Ella Zhang revealed that Jing had herself built an AI Agent for fortune telling during her Standard days.

Can Yzi Labs’ New Investment Director Boost Funding

Jing Xiong background is technically technology- focused, particularly lead by AI projects. She had pursued an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

This means that Xiong brings a the required technical fluency needed for the Investment Director to Yzi Labs. Further, as the head of the VC accelerator which manages $100 billion in assets, these qualities are vital for evaluating startups that fuse cryptographic protocols with AI.

For startup founders, Yzi Labs’ New Investment Director appointment could also mean enhanced access to deep-pocketed investors who understands the technical understanding of the tech behind them.

She also has the experience of living the start-up energy at Stanford’s entrepreneurships clubs. Thus, reportedly Jing would be advising founders in “identifying practical use cases, advising on fundraising strategies, or connecting them with the right industry experts, to help founders succeed.”

Her appointment comes as the Changpeng “CZ” Zao’s VC firm, Yzi Labs. is launching the Easy Residency incubation program in June. Co-led by CZ and Yi He, the 10-week, in-person global incubation program aims to empower early-stage teams in Web3, AI, and healthcare.

The inaugural cohort kicked off on June 2 in Silicon Valley, California, and runs through August 10, 2025 where teams are showcasing their innovative working products.

Crypto*AI Craze

Yzi Labs brining a tech leader as its Investment Head also aligns with the ongoing spree of development in crypto*AI projects. In Q1 2025, venture capital interest in Crypto-AI startups surged by over 120% year-over-year, according to Galaxy data.

Yzi Labs has already been expanding its investment portfolio towards Crypto*AI projects. Within this year only, it has supported dozens of crypto*AI startups. Few names include Vana with CZ joining as advisor, Sahara AI, DIN, among others.

Thus, the new Investment Director of Yzi Labs with her roots in AI and tech fields can further bolster the support for projects leveraging new technology.

Also Read: 4 Crypto Acquisition Deals Signed

Why trust CoinGape: CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.

Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.

About Author

With over four years of experience in covering and tracking the financial markets, Sneha Agrawal is a dedicated Crypto Journalist and Editor with passion for researching and writing the crypto pieces. She is currently leading the Brandtalk section, here at CoinGape. She likes to keep track of political, legal and financial happenings all around the world - without which she deems her day incomplete. Apart from her Journalistic endeavours, she is a solo traveler, museum goer, and a keen reader of books.